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The Best Gospel Choirs and Groups in Dallas

Gospel is more than music; it’s an experience. These singers aren’t
rock stars, but they can move their audiences with just as much
emotion. Dallas is a hotbed for outstanding groups and choirs. These
are the top in town.

Gospel is more than just a music genre; it’s an
experience. To understand its power, you have to see the singers’
faces, hear the volume of their voices. The music can send chills down
your spine and bring tears to your eyes. Entire congregations jump to
their feet in song, clapping and swaying to the rhythm.

Harmony
and praise join to stir the soul with gospel music, and gospel choirs
deliver the message. These performers are not rock stars or pop idols,
but they can move their audiences with just as much emotion, prompting
many a “Yes, Lord!” and “Thank you, Jesus!” Whether you’re a faithful
churchgoer or can barely find your way through the doors on Christmas
Eve, gospel choirs can lift your spirits.

Dallas has many
outstanding groups and choirs. From small community church choirs
tucked away in sleepy suburbia to Grammy Award-winning, 200-member mass
choirs to quartets and solo artists, you don’t have to drive far to
find one.

Forget your preconceived notions of church choirs.
Instead of being somewhere out of sight, the organist or pianist of a
gospel choir might be front and center, flanked by a full band,
including horns. Choir members may not be draped in robes; they could
be sporting colorful chiffon ponchos or jeans and white button-downs
with pink ties. A soloist might step out from behind the altar to sing
with fervor, her voice flying high above the chorus.

But
church isn’t the only place you can go to enjoy the music. As it was
more than 100 years ago, gospel is a Southern folk tradition. Groups
gather wherever there’s a venue. It might be at the local community
center, coffee shop, or Meyerson Symphony Center.

To bring you
this list of the top gospel choirs in town, we asked local DJs and
choir directors to name their favorites. Among the more than 50 named,
five choirs and three groups appeared on almost every ballot. Don’t
wait until Sunday to experience the music: listen to a sample from each
of the Best Gospel Choirs and Groups in Dallas by visiting www.dmagazine.com.

Pastor
and music director Rickie Rush likes to challenge congregants to stay
seated during an entire Living Sound performance. They rarely, if ever,
meet that challenge. The 14-year-old choir is motivated by a passion to
make “the word of God come alive through music,” and staying in your
seat during a performance is tough. The music is lively, energetic,
inspirational, and motivational, and Rush pens many of the songs with a
specific message in mind. He wants the music to be “seen, heard, and
learned.” Their CDs, The Living Sound, Volume One and The Living Sound, Volume Two can be purchased at the church store.

Known
for their blend of traditional vocals with contemporary flavor,
brothers Ken, Cecil, Glen, and Quintin Washington have been singing
together for more than 30 years. For Cecil, the songwriter and lead
singer, the music must have more than just a good beat; it needs to
“reach a person’s soul.” The group—nominated for a 2005 Stellar
Award—performs almost every weekend in cities across the United States.
Their most recent release, Only the Strong Survive, is available at www.amazon.com or www.blackberryrecords.com.

If
you don’t see it with your own eyes, you won’t believe that this mighty
choir is composed of young adults. They sing locally and nationally
with the maturity and strength of choirs that have been around longer
than these kids have been alive. Much of the credit goes to Adolphus
“Bud” Dean, who founded the choir in 1996 and in 2003 was awarded the
Youth Director Steeple Award. The choir’s CD, Faithful, is a fantastic mix of full-choir gospels as well as outstanding solo spirituals. It is available at www.dallascitytemple.org.

Influenced by gospel legend Shirley Ceasar, the Christianettes
adopted her sound and gave it their own spin. Group members have
changed in the 30 years since they started singing together, but they
still perform many of the songs written by original member Corine
Walton. The seven female singers might be the hardest working women in
gospel, performing every weekend, sometimes three or four times. For
more information or to purchase CDs and cassettes, call 817-413-7692.

First Baptist Church of Hamilton Park Male ChorusMusic Director: John Sherow-TatumChoir: About 100 singers; four-piece bandWhere: First Baptist Church of Hamilton Park, 300 E. Phillips St., Richardson. 972-235-4235When:
The third Sunday of each month during the 10:30 a.m. service; Dec. 4, 7
p.m. at Eisemann Center (2351 Performance Dr., Richardson.
972-744-4600); guest performances at other local, national, and
international venues

From the first notes of the melody, the Hamilton Park Male Chorus
surprises. Classically trained pianist John Sherow-Tatum is the choir’s
music director, and he reworks traditional gospel songs to fit the
choir’s sound. Though the choir has roots in gospel—singing anything
from slow spirituals to uplifting hymns—they adapt to any situation;
they are known to include European anthems and even operatic tunes in
their sets. To purchase a CD, call 972-235-4235.

The Mighty TravelersMusic Directors/Writers: Kenneth Stokes and James JenningsGroup: Four singers; four-piece bandWhere: Local and national venuesWhen: Dec 12, 6 p.m. at Nazareth Missionary Baptist Church (8205 Burton Rd. 214-388-3233)

Thirty years ago, when he was just 14, Kenneth Stokes started the
Mighty Travelers with his cousins. Since then, the sound has matured
from traditional gospel to soulful contemporary with a heavy R&B
influence. Most of their songs are original works, with as much care
put into instrumentation as vocalization. The group performs locally
about five times a year, so don’t miss them when they’re in town. Their
CD, Lord, I Need You, is available at Sam’s Records (3434 Sunnyvale St.
214-375-1376) and His Place (233 W. Jefferson Blvd. 214-948-3653). For
more information, call 214-381-0768.

The Potter’s House ChoirMusic Director: Minister Steve LawrenceChoir: About 200 singers; seven-piece bandWhere: The Potter’s House of Dallas, 6777 W. Kiest Blvd. 214-331-0954When: The first and third Sunday of every month, 8 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. services; guest performances at national venues

It’s no wonder that the Potter’s House Choir won a 2003 Grammy Award
for the album A Wing and a Prayer; the music is universal. As choir
director, Minister Steve Lawrence takes great care in selecting music
that reaches a congregation with cultural, economic, and racial
differences. The choir sings potent hymnals, spirituals, and anthems
during Potter’s House services and at national events such as the Lou
Rawls Parade of Stars, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and
the Stellar Music Awards. A Wing and a Prayer is available at www.amazon.com.

Each of St. John Baptist’s five choirs is fantastic individually,
but when they come together to form one mass choir, the result is a
harmonic hailstorm. Their voices resonate in your body and soul. The
majority of their repertoire is traditional gospel, but every now and
then, music director Clark Joseph adds some spice. As a Sunday morning
choir, they are dedicated to music that inspires worship and faith. To
find out more information or to order a CD, go to www.sjbcfamily.com.